Highlights:

• Isolated, wild surf beaches

• Koalas, wallabies and echidnas

• Rainforest and coastal heathlands

• The Twelve Apostles

Brief:

⏱ Duration: 6 Days
🗺 Distance: 104 km
⛰ Difficulty: Moderate
🗓 Best Time: Sept - June
🛏 Accomm: Camping or various options

Great Ocean Walk - Walk Overview

Parks Victoria, the arm of the Victorian Government responsible for overseeing Victoria’s parks and protected natural spaces, encourages local and international visitors to “Walk Victoria’s Icons”. Parks Victoria describes the chosen walks as “long distance walking experiences that showcase iconic landscapes”. So far, there are three such iconic walks and the Great Ocean Walk is one of them. 

The walk is a point to point walk, that follows the coastline between Apollo Bay (at the east end of the walk) and the Twelve Apostles (near Princetown at the west end of the walk). The walk may be tackled in either direction, however, most people do the walk east to west.

This wonderful coastal walk exists, and is so appealing to walkers, because the Great Ocean Road (Victoria’s most popular regional tourist attraction) heads inland west of Apollo Bay and, except for one fleeting visit to the coast, stays well inland until Princetown (the end of the walk). Minor roads lead in to the coast from time to time, but they are little used, leaving the wild coast and its extensive bush fringe largely untrammelled.

The track is well marked and sign-posted. It’s also well-constructed with moderate gradients. If doing the walk from east to west, the first half of the walk is easier and less remote that the second half. The second half has a few more ascents and descents.

There are seven Parks Victoria campsites along the track, providing a decent amount of flexibility for those camping. For those relying on off-track accommodation, there are many options and transport from the track to the accommodation is straightforward through shuttle bus/car operators or the accommodation providers. In a few instances, the accommodation is within a short walk of the track.

The Great Ocean Walk is located largely within the Great Otway and Port Campbell National Parks. These adjacent Parks cover vast tracts of the Otway Ranges that rise unexpectedly from the plains of Victoria’s Western District before plunging dramatically into the ocean. Inland, the Parks contain tall forests and rainforest gullies, while their coastal fringe boasts wild cliff-tops, isolated postcard beaches, rugged headlands and stunning rock formations.

Further information:

• A six day itinerary is described on this page (scroll down).

• For more information on walking in the Great Otway National Park and on the Surf Coast, click the buttons below.

Great Ocean Walk - Itinerary

The walk takes 6 days to complete. A sample itinerary for the full walk is shown below. Shorter versions are easily organised.

Day 4

Castle Cove to Milanesia Gate

Distance: 16 km

Time: 5 hours

Accommodation: Camping or various lodgings

Day 5

Milanesia Gate to The Gables

Distance: 18 km

Time: 7 hours

Accommodation: Camping or various lodgings

Day 6

The Gables to the Twelve Apostles

Distance: 19 km

Time: 7 hours

Accommodation: Camping or various lodgings

Great Ocean Walk - Walk Options

Guided

Several tour operators offer part or all of this walk as a guided trip. You can choose to do the entire 104 km walk or opt for shorter versions.

The tour operators that offer the full walk generally follow the six day walking itinerary described above. Some offer the entire walk as a seven day trip.

Accommodation options on the guided walks include comfortable beach house/lodge style accommodation, historic cottages, purpose-built walkers lodge, motels and an eco-lodge. Generally, rooms with private facilities are available, but not always.

Some tour operators offer additional activities such as Twelve Apostles sight-seeing, Cape Otway Lightstation tour, insights from members of local indigenous communities, local historian presentation and a helicopter ride.

Typically, the package offered by these operators includes:

• Transfers to and from Melbourne

• One or two professional guides

• Accommodation

• All meals

• Transfers between the track and the accommodation

• National park entrance fees

Assisted self-guided

Several tour operators offer comprehensive self-guided services. Typically, the service includes:

• Track notes, maps and information pack

• Accommodation

• Luggage transport and vehicle transfers between track and accommodation

• Breakfasts, dinners and packed lunches

• National Park admission

• Some level of emergency support

The duration of the self-guided options range from three to six days, but can be further tailored depending upon how far you wish to walk each day and how much of the walk you wish to complete. Accommodation options range from comfortable to very comfortable.

Independent

Parks Victoria has established seven campsites along the walk.  Their distribution has been planned so that there are camping locations roughly a day’s walk apart along the track.

The track campsites have bush toilets, rainwater tanks, picnic tables and seats. Walkers must bring their own tents.

Great Ocean Walk - Essential Information

Access

The Great Ocean Walk is a point to point walk that runs between Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles. The walk can be done in either direction, but most people do it from east to west, starting at Apollo Bay. 

Apollo Bay is about a three hour drive from Melbourne. It can be accessed by public transport. There is an infrequent bus service between Apollo Bay and Port Campbell (which is just beyond the end of the Great Ocean Walk).

There are a number of private transport operators who can provide transport from Apollo Bay to and from the track. These operators cater for individuals and groups. Self-guided and guided tour operators also provide access to the track as do certain accommodation providers.

Park Entry

No entry permit is needed for access to the Great Otway and Port Campbell National Parks or to undertake the Great Ocean Walk but use of the Parks Victoria campsites on the walk must be booked, and paid for, in advance. Permits can be bought online and printed yourself.

Best Time

The walk can be done all year round. There are differing views on the best time to do the walk. Some people relish the solitude and drama of a wild coastline in winter, while others prefer the prospect of swimming weather.

Difficulty

This walk is rated at a moderate level of difficulty.

Accommodation

In addition to the walk accommodation described in ‘Walk Options’ above, there are several accommodation options at either end of the track and along the track. There are also other accommodation providers near to the track, some offering luxury facilities. Accommodation options range from camping, caravan park cottages and cabins through to resort rooms and apartments.

Some of the accommodation providers near to the track are attuned to walkers’ needs or offer amenities suited to walkers. 

We can assist walkers in choosing the accommodation options which best suit their needs.

Other activities

As a popular tourism destination, the Great Ocean Road region offers many attractions in addition to the Great Ocean Walk. Many walkers choose to add extra days to their trip so that they can experience some of these attractions.

Assistance

We can assist walkers with various aspects of their walking holidays.

Great Ocean Walk - Route Map

A route map for the Great Ocean Walk is set out below. The mark ‘A’ indicates the starting point at Apollo Bay and ‘B’ the finish at the Twelve Apostles. The walk is generally undertaken from east to west.